Impostors
After boarding two other trains and several days travel Raven, Ed, and Al finally made it to Xenotime. They were walking into town Al noticed something.
"Do you really think we'll find the Philosopher's Stone in a rundown town like this? Looking around it's hard to believe they ever produced much gold at all." said Al as they walked down the large hill.
"Which is why they're all the more likely to be developing the Philosopher's Stone." said Ed.
"What do you mean?" asked Al as he looked at Ed.
"Now that their mines are no longer producing gold they've got plenty of reason to want to transmute it and they can only do that with the Philosopher's Stone. What with this being a former gold mining town it wouldn't too suspicious." said Raven as she looked up at Al. "And that makes a cast-iron alibi when the military comes sniffing around."
"Is money all that grown-ups think about?" asked Al when they heard a loud noise off to the side.
"Elisa! Hey, get over here and give me a hand!"
They stopped and watched as three men tried to get a heavy mining cart off a little girl. The little girl had tears on her face as the men failed to move the cart even a little bit.
It's no use. It won't budge." said a second man as he quit pushing.
"Daddy." cried the little girl, Elisa, and her father kneeled down next to her.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of this I promise." said her father.
"What's wrong?" asked Ed and the men looked up at them.
"My daughter, she's trapped!" shouted Elisa's father and the trio ran over to the cart.
Ed bent over and looked under the cart before saying to Elisa, "Hold still for just a minute."
Raven made the father step back as Ed stood up and transmuted the cart, turning it into a large pillar. The men were impressed at the transmutation and Raven rolled her eyes at their obvious display of stupidity. Ed smiled as he bent down and Elisa stopped crying.
"I mean it! We sure were lucky to have some real alchemists like you guys show up when you did. I can't begin to thank you enough." said Elisa's father as Raven, Ed, and Al were surrounded by a bunch of people.
"Am I supposed to eat all this?" asked Raven as she looked at one of the dishes on the table.
"And don't forget his metal father!" said Elisa and Al nearly fell over while Raven and Ed laughed.
"No, you've got it all wrong." said Ed as he pointed his thumb at Al. "Al's not my father. He's actually my younger brother."
Everyone looked surprised as Al recovered himself and Elisa spoke again.
"Younger brother? But he's so much bigger than you are." said Elisa and it was Ed's turn to nearly fall over while Al and Raven laughed.
"Anyway, we're all just glad that you're okay Elisa." said Al when a man carrying a basket of lemons suddenly barged in.
"Elisa! Elisa, are you all right?" asked the man as he tried to catch his breath.
"Uncle Belsio!" shouted Elisa happily as she tried to run up and hug him, but her father held her back. "Daddy?"
"Get out. You've got some nerve showing your face in my house now. After almost getting my poor daughter killed." said Elisa's father before looking down at Elisa. "Listen to me Elisa. No matter what he says you are not to help him with his work ever again."
Belsio looked ashamed when Elisa defended him.
"No Daddy!" shouted Elisa, Belsio looking startled and everyone looking at Elisa. "None of that was Uncle Belsio's idea! I was the one who begged him to let me help out…"
Elisa suddenly started coughing violently and her father grabbed a glass of water.
"I'm sorry sweetie. Here, drink this." said her father as he gave her the glass and rubbed her back as she drank it.
Belsio set the lemons on a table before turning to leave, saying, "I am sorry."
He left, shutting the door behind him, and when Elisa had recovered she walked over to the basket.
"Uncle Belsio told me your lemon pies were always the best Daddy and that it was a shame that all the lemon farms were shut down. I thought maybe if I helped I could taste your pie." said Elisa and every man in the room looked ashamed.
"Don't worry." said one man as he looked up happily. "Once the Philosopher's Stone is finished we'll all be rich! And then we can afford to buy all the fruit we want from some other town!"
All the men looked happy again, but the trio looked at each other at the mention of the Philosopher's Stone.
"Philosopher's Stone?" asked Raven cautiously.
"Yes." said Elisa's father, making Ed, Raven, and Al look at him. "That's it! The three of you must have come here to Xenotime to assist Mr. Mugear with his research and finish the Philosopher's Stone."
Ed and Raven looked surprised as a second man said, "Please do everything in your power. Make it as fast as you can."
"We want Xenotime once again to be the town of gold."
"That's right. We're counting on you alchemists."
They looked uncomfortable as the crowd pressed in on them, Ed saying, "Wow, that puts a lot of pressure on us. I guess we'll just have to visit Mugear now and see what we can do."
"Before you go, could you tell us the names of our saviors?"
"I'm Raven Dain, the Crimson Blade Alchemist."
"I'm Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist!"
"And I'm his brother Alphonse, Alphonse Elric."
"The Elric brothers? State Alchemist, hero-of-the-people Elric?" asked a man as the crowd looked puzzled.
"Yup." said Ed proudly when suddenly they were seized and thrown outside. "What was that about!?"
"Shut up!" shouted Elisa's father angrily as Raven dusted herself off. "The real Elric brothers are already working to save our town up there with Mugear!"
He pointed up at the mansion on the hill before saying, "Come back when you're ready to tell us who you really are!"
He slammed the door shut as Raven stood up and shook out her coat, Al picking up the briefcase that had been carelessly tossed outside.
"That was unusual." said Raven as an extremely pissed off Ed stood up. "Wonder why someone would want to steal your name. I mean, you don't exactly have the best reputation or temper for that matter."
"We're going up there to teach those imposters a lesson." growled Ed as he stalked, stiff-legged, towards the mansion.
"Ed, you have that crazy look in your eyes." warned Raven as she and Al followed him. "Are you sure you want to do this tonight? Maybe you should sleep some of it off first."
"Yeah brother, you're not exactly the easiest person to talk to when you're angry." said Al and Ed gritted his teeth loudly. "Sorry…"
"Here we go again." said Raven as she cracked her neck. "I put fifty bucks on Ed getting his ass kicked. Any other bets?"
"I'll take that bet." gritted Ed.
"Looks like I just made fifty bucks." said Raven and Ed's head turned completely around.
"Just wait!" he shouted.
"Another thirty if you get punched in the face." said Raven and Ed glared back at her.
"Brother, look ou-" started Al but Ed ran into a wall before he could finish.
"Damn wall!" snarled Ed as he kicked it with his right foot and started hopping from the pain in his toes. "Damn wall! Damn toes!"
The rest of the trip up to the mansion consisted of Ed hopping on one foot while shouting random things that should be sentenced to eternal damnation for pissing him off.
As the trio made their way up to the mansion, inside a room on the second floor two brothers were looking at a large vial of a red liquid. What made the scene odd was that they both wore identical face masks that covered their nose and mouth.
Outside the gate the group hid behind a large bush, watching the guards at the gate.
"They seem a little well armed for just supposed to be gate keepers." said Raven in a conversational voice.
Ed paid her no attention as he said, "Now why would someone go around using our names?"
"Brother, are you and Raven really gonna sneak in there?" asked Al nervously.
"Of course we are." said Ed angrily as he turned to Al. "To confront these imposters and to get them to tell us about the Philosopher's Stone."
Raven waved her hand to signal the guards weren't paying attention and Ed snuck up to peek around the bush. He motioned to Al who gave him a boost over the wall before helping Raven over. She in turn helped pull him up before they snuck over to another bush. Ed clapped his hands before transmuting a hole in the wall, sending a sheet of alchemic energy along the wall. Unbeknownst to them the two brothers on the second floor noticed.
"Brother, was that?" asked the Fake Al as he looked up at the Fake Ed.
"A transmutation." finished the Fake Ed.
"Look at this!" said Ed in a raised whisper as they entered the library. "All these books are about the Philosopher's Stone!"
"Then this must be where they're making it, right?" asked Al as Ed and Raven each started reading one of the books.
"No doubt about it." mumbled Ed as a door opened behind them, but it went unnoticed.
"In case the guards weren't a clue this place is off limits." said the Fake Ed as the Fake Al one hid behind him.
"By any chance are you guys the ones-" started Al as Ed whirled around angrily.
"-stealing our names!?" finished Ed.
"I take it that means you're the real Ed in the suit and you're the Crimson Blade Alchemist, huh?" asked the Ed and Al looked confused while Raven's eyes narrowed.
"Yeah." said Raven as her hand casually reached back for her sword.
"Me?" asked Al.
"No you dolt I'm Ed! Not him! Why does everybody think that!?" asked Ed angrily.
"Because you're short you idiot." said Raven and Ed turned on her.
"Who are you calling so short he'll never amount to anything!?" asked Ed and Al separated them.
The Fake Al stepped out from behind his sibling, looking surprised, before saying, "Hmm, so you're the Fake Ed?"
"You're damn right!" shouted Ed and the Fake Al hid behind his sibling again.
"Try to tone it down a notch of the gunmen will realize you're here." said the Fake Ed before walking towards the group. Ed instantly calming down. "How bizarre. The real younger brother wears a suit of armor to protect himself. It's hard to believe you're only 14."
"How do you know so much about us?" asked Al.
"You wanna start something with me?" asked Ed angrily as the Fake Ed stopped right in front of him.
"No, I don't want to fight with you Ed, so why don't you turn around and go home with your girlfriend and leave us to take care of things around here." said the Fake Ed, Raven flaring up.
"GIRLFRIEND!" shrieked Raven, baring her teeth in an animal-like snarl. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING ED'S GIRLFRIEND!?"
Al restrained Raven as Ed stared up at the Fake Ed, his face blank.
"That's not the way you beg someone to do something." said Ed as he pointed at the floor. "On your knees."
When the Fake Ed didn't move Ed started to point insistently at the floor, growling, "I said get down on the ground!"
"What, so we can see eye to eyes?" asked the Fake Ed as he shrugged. "Surely you must be used to people looking down on you."
Ed flared and tried to punch the Fake Ed but missed, the vein in his temple twitching. He tried again and again, each time his vein twitching more and more violently. Suddenly the Fake Ed grabbed his automail hand and looked down at it in interest.
"An automail arm, huh? I guess the real Ed's seen some action too." said the Fake Ed and Ed smiled.
"And I'm glad to see you have some skills. I'd hate for you to be damaging my name!" shouted Ed as he kicked at the Fake Ed's head with his automail leg, just missing but managing to graze his hair.
The Fake Ed growled as he was pushed back by the force of the blow, Ed charging while his opponent was recovering. Ed was almost close enough when the Fake Ed punched him in the face, sending him into a bookshelf.
"You know I've always wanted to find out what a bona fide State Alchemist is capable of." said the Fake Ed smiling.
"I think you're gonna be sorry you asked!" shouted Raven as she kneeled down and transmuted a huge wall behind the Fake Ed as Ed transmuted spikes and sent them at the trapped imposter.
The spikes crashed into the wall, creating a way for the Fake Ed to escape as he ran down an aisle and appeared to Ed's left. Raven and Ed looked for him when he suddenly appeared.
"You don't need circles, huh?" asked the imposter as he slammed him hand into the ground, red light revealing spikes identical to Ed's.
"The fake you doesn't need a circle either!" shouted Al, surprised, as Ed grabbed him and pulled him to safety behind a bookshelf.
"How did you? Do you have the Philosopher's Stone?" asked Raven as Ed growled at the Fake Ed.
"What was all that commotion?"
Everyone's head shot over to the door as they heard one of the guards, footsteps drawing nearer.
"It came from in here!"
"Come on!" shouted Raven as she grabbed Ed by the collar and pulled him to his feet. "We NEED to get out of here NOW!"
Al climbed to his feet and followed the other two out of the hole in the wall, jumping the fence to avoid the guards at the gate. They continued running until they were on the other side of town, settling down on a large hill of sand.
"Damn it, I feel sore all over." said Ed, his puffed up cheek making him sound funny.
"I like your accent Ed." said Raven as she looked at Ed, an annoyed look on his face.
"The fake you was pretty powerful, huh?" asked Al as he looked up at the moon.
"Ha. He had somethin' givin' him a boost." said Ed, looking even more annoyed.
"Does that mean they've finished making a Philosopher's Stone?" asked Al as he looked at Ed.
"I don't know but we're gonna find out." said Ed as he sat forward and hugged his knees.
"You know, I wonder what those brothers' real names are or if they're really brothers at all. And I wonder if the older brother is actually much older than you are or-" said Al before Ed knocked him over.
"Size doesn't mean anything!" said Ed irritably and Raven laughed as she sat up.
"You don't act like that every time someone calls you 'short' or a 'pipsqueak'." said Raven and Ed shot her a look. "Oh, and you owe me eighty dollars."
Back at Mugear's mansion the Fake Ed and Al were working, the Fake Al examining some plants while his older brother was looking closely at a large vial of red colored water. His hand flew back and forth as he took notes into a small journal and the Fake Al looked sad.
"Brother, I think we should just give this ruse up already. What if the real Elric brothers turn us in? Then what?" asked the Fake Al.
"Don't worry. Nobody around here is going to believe anything they say. So just concentrate on completing the Stone so we can split town." said the Fake Ed without pausing in his note taking.
"I just hope it works out that way."
"Well I'm not gonna let Mugear take the credit for the research Dad devoted his entire life to."
"But what if-" started the Fake Al as he turned around but he was cut short.
"Don't worry. If it comes down to that I'll make sure you get away safely. No matter what." said the Fake Ed, making the Fake look even more depressed than he already was.
"You don't get it brother. I'm not worried about myself." said the Fake Al as he turned around. "There's a lot more going on here than that."
He clenched his hands as he bent over, his guilt written all over his face.
Underneath the mansion a man with grey hair stood next to a fountain that spewed the same red water that the Fake Ed had been examining. He was also wearing the same type of face mask the imposters were wearing.
"Are you sure you should be standing so close to it?" asked a silky voice and the man turned around to see a woman sitting on a ledge in the shadows.
Though she was dressed in different clothes, she was clearly the woman who had addressed Ed and Raven in Lior. Her black hair covered part of her face as her white dress covered the red tattoo on her chest. The man named Gluttony had called her Lust and she surely played the part well.
"I didn't expect to see you here." said the man, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance.
"And I didn't expect you to let those kids in." snapped Lust and the man began to appeal to her.
"But there's no need to worry. My guards scared off the Elric brothers and their little friend. I think we've seen the last of them." said the man pleadingly.
"Don't bet on it." said the woman as she brushed her hair out of her face. "Those children can be frustratingly resourceful when they want. It's a desirable trait."
She stood up and landed lightly before continuing by saying, "Of course we always knew it was only a matter of time before the military took interest in your research. You had your shot, but maybe it's time you called it quits Mugear."
Lust started to walk away when Mugear ran after her.
"A little more time please! That's all I need! Just a little more time!" begged Mugear as he got down on his knees and folded his hands. "I promise you I'll complete the Philosopher's Stone!"
He gasped, his face twisted in fright, as Lust turned around.
"Make it fast. You know I hate being dissatisfied."
As Ed's cheek continued to puff out he crawled over to Al and rested his swollen against the cool metal.
"It's starting to swell up pretty good." said Al as he looked down at the smiling Ed.
"Your cold metal feels just like an icepack." said Ed as he pressed his cheek into Al's leg.
"Glad I could be of some comfort to you brother, even in this armor." said Al.
"Thanks Ed." said Raven as she counted her money before sticking it into her wallet.
She turned around when she heard someone walking up the hill but it was only Elisa's uncle, Belsio. A shovel was over his shoulder as he stopped, Ed and Al turning around to look.
"Hey, you were the guy with the lemons before right?" asked Ed, his voice even more distorted.
"If you need a place to board up you can come with me." said Belsio and the trio looked surprised.
He started walking off as they got to their feet and started to follow him. When they got to his house they sat down at the table while Belsio got Ed some hot water and a washcloth for his cheek.
"Thank you so much for taking us in." said Al as Belsio pushed the bowl over to Ed.
"Couldn't very well let you kids sleep outside could I?" asked Belsio as he walked back over to the sink and started to wash some lemons.
"Aren't you going to ask us what our names are?" asked Ed, barely discernable now.
"You're the Elric brothers and Raven Dain, that's what you say." said Belsio.
"Then you believe us?" asked Al as he stood up.
"Honestly? Not in the least, but I figure you kids must have your own reasons for saying that you are." said Belsio as Ed started to soak his cheek. "Makes no difference to me. To each their own."
"So you're not into the Philosopher's Stone like your neighbors are?" asked Raven as she leaned her chair back on two legs.
Belsio looked at Raven before back out the window before saying, "Everyone else is unable, or unwilling, to forget the wealth the gold brought them. So Mugear's got them wrapped around his finger."
The next morning found the three friends lying on the floor, Ed and Raven wrapped up in their jackets while Al was covered with a sheet. Elisa ran in and shut the door with a bang before running into the dining room.
"Good morning Uncle Belsio!" shouted Elisa as she held her arms out.
"If your father finds you here he won't be happy." said Belsio seriously.
"Not to worry!" said Elisa as she put her hands behind her head. "Daddy's too wrapped up in talk about the gold mine to even notice!"
"Good morning!" Al as he and a sleepy looking Ed and Raven walked out of the bedroom, Elisa turning around in surprise.
"Oh! It's the make believe Elric brothers and their friend. That must hurt." said Elisa as she pointed at Ed's cheek. "Did somebody hit you 'cause you were telling lies again?"
"Yes, that's exactly why he got hit. You want to try?" asked Raven as she bent down before Ed knocked her out of the way.
"I'm telling you, we're not the imposters here kid, but I did get clocked by one of them." said Ed as he turned and covered his cheek.
"Wait! You don't mean that you're the ones who snuck into Mugear's mansion last night, do you pretend brothers?" asked Elisa and Ed turned around angrily.
"Of course we did! We can't just let those phonies run off with our names!" said Ed as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Besides, it's a major crime to use a Philosopher's Stone to make gold! They're goin' down."
"Ed." hissed Raven as she shoved Ed.
"Brother." said Al as he placed a hand on Ed's shoulder, stopping his ranting.
Ed turned to look at Al before back at Elisa who was staring at the floor, looking sad. He looked at her for a minute before turning and heading out the door.
"I'm gonna see what I can find out in town."
"Brother!" shouted Al before he slouched over. "Argh."
"It's okay kid." said Raven as she patted Elisa on the back before squatting down. "He didn't mean that. Hey, what do you do around here for fun?"
Elisa looked up at her with a big smile on her face before grabbing Raven's hand and dragging her out the door.
"Hey, big guy." said Belsio from the kitchen and Al straightened before turning to look.
"Yes?"
"How would you like to run down to the pharmacy for me today?" asked Belsio as he turned away from whatever he was doing.
"What do you need?" asked Al.
"Elisa needs her medicine and your brother, he could probably use a cold compress." said Belsio and Elisa's scream of delight could be heard from outside.
Al looked out the window to see Elisa jump off one of the trees onto Raven who caught her before whirling her around. He let out a little laugh as Raven tossed Elisa into the air and caught her on her shoulders before leaning forward.
As Al entered the pharmacy the Fake Al walked up and peered in the window as everybody there started giving the real Al nasty looks.
"My word, don't look now but one of those charlatans just walked in." said a woman behind her hand, not bothering to keep her voice down.
"The gall of him showing his deceitful face in here." said another woman as a man nearby started to cough violently.
"And you just know they were the ones who broke into Mugear's mansion last night and tried to rob him." said a third as Al just stood there.
"Hey you!" shouted the pharmacy owner from the back as she raised the mop she was using.
"Huh?" asked Al as he looked up.
"What're you doin' here?" asked the owner angrily as she ran at Al.
"I-I just need to get some medicine." said Al nervously as he held out his hands peacefully.
"Well we don't have nothin' here to keep you from tellin' lies!" shouted the owner as she swung her mop at Al, who dodged it easily. "So go on and get out!"
Al quickly backed out of the pharmacy and had the door slammed shut in his face for all his trouble.
"Great." said Al as he looked down at the ground. "Now how am I gonna get that medicine for Elisa?"
Suddenly the Fake Al ran up before saying, "Uh… excuse me…"
"You." said Al as he turned around to see his sad looking imposter standing there.
"I can buy that for you if you let me." said the Fake Al.
"Huh?" asked Al, clearly surprised.
The Fake Al looked up happily before saying, "To make up for me borrowing your identity."
After deciding on a meeting place the Fake Al ran into the pharmacy while the real Al went to the deserted construction site that the Fake Al had mentioned. He climbed onto a pyramid of large pipes and waited until the Fake Al returned with a small, white pharmacy bag.
"Here." said the Fake Al as he handed over the bag.
"Thank you very much." said Al as he took the bag and both of them looked out at the town. "I guess both of us have older brothers who let their tempers get the better of them."
"Aren't you mad at us?" asked the Fake Al as they both looked at each other.
"I figure you have your own reasons." said Al simply and the Fake Al looked sad.
"I'm sorry. For us to work with Mugear we had to have some credibility. The only way my brother could pass for a State Alchemist as a teenager was to claim he was the famous Edward Elric." said the Fake Al.
"You want a Philosopher's Stone that badly?" asked Al surprised.
"My father… he devoted his entire life to working on the stone." said the Fake Al.
"So, your father was an alchemist too?" asked Al and his fake nodded.
"Uh-huh. But then, one day he was suddenly gone." said the Fake Al as he clenched his fists. "So now, out of love for my dad my brother insists on completing his research."
The Fake Al closed his eyes and the real Al looked up before saying, "That's the opposite of my family."
In surprise the Fake Al's eyes opened and he looked up at Al, who continued.
"Our father was also an alchemist but my brother hates him for it. He was obsessed with the science and our mother suffered because of it, especially when he left her… and us. On our journeys my brother and I have met a lot more people who've suffered because of alchemy, too. Listen, if your brother is doing something you know is wrong please just be brave and stop him." said Al as he looked at the fake. "It's tough, I know, but if someone else has to intervene it'll only hurt your brother more."
The Fake looked away at Al's words before hopping down.
"You probably need to get that medicine to whoever needs it." said the Fake Al as he started to walk away.
"Wait up!" shouted Al as he jumped down.
They started to walk down the street when Al said something interesting.
"Hey, have you noticed how there are an awful lot of people with bad coughs in this town?" asked Al and the fake jumped.
"Uh… uh… no." said the fake as he looked at Al.
"Well isn't this stuff cough medicine?" asked Al as he held up the bag.
"Actually…" started the Fake when he saw his brother standing at the end of one of the streets.
The Fake Ed turned and started to walk away as the Fake Al called out, "Brother!"
Apparently the Fake Ed ignored him and continued walking so his younger sibling started to follow him.
"Sorry, I have to go now!" said the Fake Al before turning and running down the street.
"Wait!" shouted Al and the fake stopped. "Tell me your real name!"
"It's Fletcher!" said the fake before running off.
No sooner had he left Ed came running past, looking extremely agitated.
"Brother?" asked Al and Ed stopped. "Why are you running?"
"That imposter is around here somewhere! Have you seen 'em?" asked Ed angrily as he looked around.
"Ah! Um… no…" said Al as he looked down to hide his surprise.
"That unethical jerk!" shouted Ed as he turned to Al. "Did you know he's been fixing people's tools and transmuting wheel all over town!?"
Ed walked towards Al as he said, "That's better than him using your name to do bad stuff."
"That's not the point! It's the way her works! He's got no regard for the Law of Equivalent Exchange!" shouted Ed and Al looked surprised. "Al, we're gonna sneak into the mansion again tonight."
"What?" asked Al as he looked up confused. "Just one day later?"
"Right. He won't expect us!" said Ed as he laughed. "But first we have to get Raven. Where is she?"
"Playing with Elisa at Belsio's the last time I saw her." said Al as they started walking back.
Fletcher stood next to his older sibling who was examining red crystals underneath a microscope. He looked sad even though his face mask covered most of his face, and started talking.
"Brother, there's something I need to talk to you about." said Fletcher but his sibling ignored him, staying completely still.
His brother's silence made Fletcher's eyes tear up but he didn't say anything else.
Belsio was sleeping in his bed when he was awoken by the squeaking of armor and the floorboards. His eyes narrowed but he didn't get up as his three guests left, closing the door behind themselves. They quickly made their way back up to the mansion and snuck back over to the same wall they had done the previous night. Ed checked around the corner before looking at Al and Raven.
"Tonight we're trying Operation: Mole Hole." said Ed, a smirk on his face.
"Mole Hole?" asked Al.
"Mole Hole? What kind of a name is that?" asked Raven as Ed clapped his hands together and transmuted a hole in the ground. "Big hole. We're sure going to get in there tonight."
"Shut up." said Ed as he clapped his hands again, making the hole deeper and a bit wider so that Al could fit.
Several transmutations later they were underground in Ed's narrow tunnel, Ed pausing for a minute.
"By my calculations we should be under the center of the mansion now." said Ed as he looked up.
"Are you sure?" asked Al.
"No." said Ed as he clapped his hands and put them on the roof of the tunnel. "But we gotta come out somewhere."
With a flash of light the tunnel opened up into a dark room and Ed shouted, "We're in!"
They all climbed out to find themselves in a dark tunnel where a river of red colored water rushed past. Strange fumes floated to about knee level as they looked at the strangely colored river.
"What is this?" asked Al, Ed and Raven looking serious.
"So that's their plan. I think this the chemical used to produce the red stone." said Ed and Al looked at him.
"What red stone?" asked Al when Raven spoke up.
"I remember reading something about it at the library in Central. It's a theoretical solid pumped full of alchemic catalysts. You put this refined red water under a few megatons of pressure till it turns to stone."
"A Philosopher's Stone?" asked Al as he turned to look at Raven.
"No. More like a cheap imitation." said Raven as she looked at Al. "I think there was some alchemist named Nash or something who was researching the red stone. But in the end it never panned out."
She stopped when Ed suddenly started to cough violently.
"Brother!"
"Ed!"
"I'm having some trouble breathing…" said Ed before passing out.
"Brother! Brother!" shouted Al as he caught Ed before he hit the ground.
"Ed! Wake up!" shouted Raven as she shook Ed.
"This way!" shouted a voice and the two looked up to see someone standing in a doorway with a mask over their face.
"Who's there?" asked Al.
"It's me! Come on! Hurry!" shouted Fletcher looking serious.
"Fletcher…" said Al before picking Ed up and running towards the door, Raven tailing him.
When they were safely in the lab Fletcher discarded his mask as Al laid Ed across his lap.
"Will he be okay?" asked Raven as she put her hand on Ed's forehead.
"Yes. He just needs to clear out his lungs." said Fletcher as he looked at Raven. "How come you didn't pass out?"
"What?" asked Raven as she stood up.
"You should have passed out from being exposed to that much vapor." said Fletcher. "Or at the very least had trouble breathing."
"I feel fine." said Raven as she looked herself over.
"Brother, are you all right?" asked Al as Ed awoke, his eyes snapping open.
"Huh? Where… where am I Al?" asked Ed as he blinked a few times before sitting up, his face showing anger when he saw Fletcher nearby. "And what the hell is he doing here!?"
"Ed!" hissed Raven angrily.
"I-I'm sorry!" said Fletcher as his eyes started to tear up and he backed away.
"Huh? What're you sorry about? What'd you do?" asked Ed, confused.
"No Fletcher, it's what you didn't do isn't it?" asked Al and everyone looked at him. "If you know something, tell us. I get the feeling you don't like what's going on here."
Ed and Raven looked at Fletcher who looked extremely sad.
"That red water you saw…" said Fletcher as he closed his eyes. "It's a toxic substance that's been polluting the whole town. But it's… it's the vital ingredient for creating a red stone."
"Is that why the people in Xenotime have been coughing so badly?" asked Raven which was an obvious mistake as tears started pouring down Fletcher's face.
"I'm so sorry!" shouted Fletcher as he covered his face with his hands and began to sob.
"Okay, this is ridiculous!" said Ed as he stood up. "First things first, let's demolish this lab."
"I can't let you do that." said the Fake Ed as he snuck into the room and held out a red stone a little bigger than his eye. "After all the work we've put into it we've finally created a red stone. My father gave everything he had in pursuit of this break-through Mr. Elric."
He smirked evilly before saying, "If you think I'm gonna give up now you're quite mistaken."
"So you care that much about a lame piece of costume jewelry?" said Ed, smirking, as the Fake Ed put the stone back into his pocket and grabbed a lamp, transmuting it into a black sword. "Yeah, a fake sword from a fake stone, huh?"
Ed transmuted his automail into a handblade before finishing by saying, "I think I can top that!"
He charged the Fake Ed who readied his sword and parried Ed's blow. They had a pushing war until the pressure of Ed's handblade made the sword crack.
"Mine's the genuine article!" shouted Ed as he smiled, sure he was going to win.
Suddenly the Fake Ed kneed Ed in the stomach, sending him flying. He did a backflip in mid-air, landing neatly as his imposter threw his sword aside before pressing his hand against the wall and transmuting the nozzle of a hose. After a few more seconds he grabbed it and pulled, making a hose out of the stone in the wall.
"What the!?" asked Raven as she drew her sword.
"Red water straight from the tap." said the Fake Ed as his face glowed with an evil grin. "If you're doused with it you're a goner. You'll lose a lot more than your consciousness!"
"Fine! Let it rain!" shouted Ed as he transmuted his handblade into a large umbrella.
His imposter turned on the nozzle, sending a wave of red water straight at Ed. Ed held his hand steady as the excess water started a pool around his feet.
"Ed, this is crazy!" shouted Al.
"Your brother's right! Just go and you can live!" shouted the Fake Ed, the smirk no longer on his face.
"Never!" shouted Ed and his imposter gasped. "I'm not giving up to some naïve kid who's desperate to be… just like daddy!"
The Fake Ed snarled and turned on the nozzle further, increasing the pressure. Ed started to slip backwards, unable to keep his ground. Suddenly his foot hit a puddle and he slipped backwards. He yelled out in surprise and no one noticing as Fletcher ran forward, knocking Ed aside and landing in the water himself. Al and Raven ran forward as Fletcher writhed on the ground in pain, the red water soaking into his clothing.
"Fletcher!" shouted Al as he helped Fletcher up. "Fletcher, hang in there."
"Brother, the reason Dad wanted to create a red stone was to bring happiness to people and make their lives better!" said Fletcher as he looked at his older brother who was staring at the ground in shame. "But what we've been doing here, it's actually been making people suffer hasn't it? Don't you see the cost of forging that stone?"
Ed and Raven stood up as Fletcher continued, his eyes starting to tear up.
"It doesn't matter who gets the credit anymore! Because this isn't…" Fletcher looked up at his older brother. "Because Dad would be ashamed if he could see what we've done!"
The Fake Ed looked up at his sibling but then away when a police whistle sounded somewhere outside the room. Everyone looked at the door before the trio looked at each other, their eyes wide.
"Mr. Edward! Is everything all right in there!?" asked one of the guards as he pounded on the door.
"Yeah I'm fine!" shouted the Fake Ed. "I told them not to bother me in here."
"Heh. Well maybe they don't really trust you." said Ed as he pointed at his fake. "Though I can't see why except for, you know, lying about who you are!"
No one noticed as Fletcher crawled towards the door, too wrapped up in what was going on. He pulled out a piece of chalk and drew something on the door, Al gasping when he realized what was going on.
"What the? Fletcher!" shouted the Fake Ed as he looked at his younger brother who finished drawing his transmutation circle and activated it.
In a flash of green light a large tree grew over the doorway, blocking it and anchoring itself in place by using the floor and walls. Fletcher turned and said, "Run for it! Hurry!"
Suddenly the door started to buckle as the guards started to bang something heavy against it. Raven and Al turned to Ed who looked like he didn't know what to do.
"Brother…" said Al and Ed nodded.
"If they catch you we'll all be in trouble! So please, get out of here quickly! I promise I'll explain everything later!" shouted Fletcher as the guards continued to bang against the door.
"All right, let's go boys!" shouted Raven as she ran up to a window and broke through it.
Ed and Al followed her as she jumped the hedges and the wall before disappearing into the night. The Fake Ed ran to the window to watch as Fletcher walked to the middle of the room, holding the arm that was covered in red water.
"You can blame me brother." said Fletcher and his sibling looked away, ashamed.
Fletcher stumbled back over to the tree as the Fake Ed pulled out his red stone and started to siphon the red water off his brother. When he had most of it healed he started to lecture Fletcher.
"You promised you would never experiment with alchemy Fletcher. You know Dad didn't like you doing it." said the Fake Ed and two guards ran in bearing rifles, Fletcher looking up at them.
"My lab!?" shouted a man as he stumbled into the room. "What have they done to my lab?"
"Mr. Mugear." said the Fake Ed and the older man stopped to look at them.
"Oh, I'm glad to see you're all right." said Mugear, looking concerned. "The stone? Has it been damaged?"
The Fake Ed held up the stone as he stood to assure him and said, "No need to worry. It's intact."
Mugear looked overjoyed as he took the stone and examined it closely.
"It's a decent size. I commend you for getting this far." said Mugear before looking up at the impostor. "But I'm afraid that our time-table has been pushed up. I need you to move directly into our contingency plan."
"But sir, we've made real progress." pleaded the Fake Ed, Mugear looking unimpressed. "We don't need to resort to that."
"Are you questioning the only person who's given you a chance?" asked Mugear angrily.
"No…" said the Fake Ed as he looked away. "No."
"There once was another alchemist who couldn't do what I asked him." said Mugear as he pulled out what appeared to be a round glass pitcher that was half full with red water. "He left here with his tail between his legs and he was never heard from again."
He dropped the red stone into the machine and it glowed red.
"What is that?" asked the Fake Ed, looking afraid as Mugear held up the machine.
"With this machine even a non-alchemist such as myself has options." said Mugear as he pointed the machine at the floor.
Red light shot out of the machine and into the floor, making it glow as it slowly advanced underneath the brothers. Suddenly ropes sprung out of the ground and wrapped themselves around the brothers who struggled against their new bonds.
"Why are you doing this?" asked the Fake Ed angrily as he struggled.
"Because I can. You honestly think I'm a fool don't you?" asked Mugear as he held the machine back up again, a crazy look in his eyes. "That I don't realize the true Edward Elric has an automail arm and travels with Raven Dain."
The brothers looked scared as Mugear revealed their biggest secret of all.
"Or that you're the sons of Nash Tringham!"
Belsio sat at the kitchen table with his back to the door, an annoyed look on his face. As the trio snuck through the door and were halfway to their room he called out to them.
"A lot of excitement up at the mansion tonight, huh?" asked Belsio, surprising Ed, Al, and Raven into stopping.
"You don't say…" said Ed as he laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"Second night in a row. There's not much hope for you is there?" asked Belsio and coughing could be heard from Elisa's bedroom.
"Is Elisa still here?" asked Al as they all looked at the bedroom door.
"Her father's gonna be furious but she wanted to stay here, and like you three, she won't listen to reason. I had no choice, though, with her coughing like that so I put her to bed." said Belsio as he stood up and walked over to the fireplace.
After getting a fire started he made some hot chocolate and they all sat down in the living room.
"We found out why those fake Elric brothers are up at the mansion. They're researching a substance called red water." said Raven as she sipped her hot chocolate.
"Red water?" asked Belsio as he sat down, looking surprised.
"They want to crystallize it into a red stone, an alchemic amplifier. Stupid… compared to the Philosopher's Stone it's a cheap imitation. They're wasting their time." said Ed as he took a sip out of his cup.
"He said his father put his whole life into that research." said Al, Ed and Raven looking at him.
"Yeah, yeah." said Ed as he looked away. "Probably another lie."
"Unless… maybe they're the sons of Nash Tringham." said Belsio as he looked at the floor, the trio looking at him in surprise.
"Nash Tringham? You mean that theorist I read about? The guy who came up with the idea?" asked Raven intently.
"He grew up in Xenotime, just like me." said Belsio as he looked up. "He only moved to Central to put his research together on the red water. He was gone for years and then one night he showed up, out of the blue. It was raining."
A man wearing a grubby rain coat and hat walked off the platform as a train left, the rain coming down hard. He walked down the street, eyes down, not speaking to anybody when someone called out his name.
"Nash Tringham!" shouted Belsio from under his umbrella, a basket of lemons in the crook of his arm. "You really are back! Guess I lost that bet. How are you?"
Nash gave a weak smile and they both walked into a café to talk. They sat at a small table by one of the windows, Nash just staring down at the table looking depressed.
"The town's worse off now than when you left. I keep saying we need to give up on gold but that's a pill no one wants to swallow. So, how's the research going on the red water brains?" asked Belsio, a smile on his face again. "Any luck yet?"
"Abandoned. I'll never mess with it again. And I'm not going back to Central. Ever." said Nash without looking up.
"But, Nash, what about your family?" asked Belsio, surprised at his friend's decision.
"I've been a failure. Both as a good husband and a father." said Nash.
"No, Nash…" said Belsio as Mugear walked up, looking very good in his business suit.
"He left everything behind that mattered to him. But he wouldn't tell me a word about what had happened at Central. He was a wet, wounded animal ready to be pounced on and the town's biggest land baron, Mugear, had made his fortune selling blood."
Some time later Belsio was making a rock wall along the side of the road when Nash appeared, followed closely by Mugear.
"Beg me all you want, the answer's the same." said Nash and Belsio looked up from what he was doing.
"You're going to turn your back on this town too? The mines have dried up and people are suffering! But your red water could make us produce again! Once we have the gold the town will bounce back twice as strong! We need you Nash! You could be our hero! You can still make something out of your life!" said Mugear and Nash started shaking.
"Ultimately he gave in, secluding himself in Mugear's mine to resume research. And as the land baron promised the town was once again lit by gold. Furnaces were aflame, vendors filled the streets with their wares. Life returned to the people. But at the same time a mysterious plague began to spread. We had all the money we wanted but we couldn't find a cure. Many, many babies succumbed to the disease soon after birth." said Belsio when Ed interrupted him.
"Elisa was born then?" asked Ed as Elisa's coughing started up again, and Belsio nodded.
"When she was a baby an alchemic doctor named Marcoh passed through town and took a look at her."
A man with graying hair sat next to a bed when a tiny baby girl lay, coughing weakly.
"Somehow she's come into contact with red water. I'll do whatever I can." said Dr. Marcoh as he reached into his bag and pulled out a small test tube filled with a clear, red liquid.
He uncorked it and a bright flash of gold light obscured what he was doing as he worked. Belsio watched on, waiting and hoping.
"It glowed!?" asked Ed in surprise.
"Yes." said Belsio as he nodded.
"Dr. Marcoh…" said Raven as she bit her lip. "Dr. Marcoh… that name sounds so familiar but I just can't place it…"
"The doctor's tool…" said Al as he looked back and forth between Raven and Ed. "Could it have been the real thing?"
"Whatever it was we have that to thank for Elisa's survival. I hounded Nash all about the red water." said Belsio as he continued.
Belsio and Nash were at the same place where Mugear had first convinced the latter to come and work for him. Nash looked guilty as Belsio confronted him, extremely angry.
"Answer me Nash! Before this whole town becomes a graveyard! What the hell have you done here!?" asked Belsio.
"It's all my fault. I've brought it out… again. Sorry Belsio. I'm going to stop it. Once and for all." said Nash as he started to walk down the path that led to Mugear's mansion.
"But Nash…" said Belsio, looking surprised that Nash had given in that easily.
"That was the last time anyone ever saw him. Soon after the gold dried up and the town was once again on the decline. If those are indeed Nash's boys they must have come here in search of their father, or his work." finished Belsio.
Ed set down his cup and walked outside, shutting the door behind himself. Raven and Al looked at each other before Al followed him, leaving Raven and Belsio alone by the fire. When Al found him he was out in the orchard sitting up in one of the trees.
"Brother?" asked Al.
"What is it?" asked Ed without looking at him.
"Is it wrong? They wanted something to bring them closer to their dad." said Al.
"Oh please Al, they're just using their father to justify their own selfish causes." said Ed and Al looked down.
"Maybe, but is it really all that different from what we're doing?" asked Al calmly.
"Huh?" asked Ed.
"All I'm saying is I know how they must feel." said Al and Ed closed his eyes before looking up at the mansion.
"So you've heard of Dr. Marcoh before?" asked Belsio as Raven drank more of her hot chocolate.
"I can't say I have but the name sounds so damn familiar." said Raven angrily as she ran a hand through her hair. "It feels like it's at the tip of my tongue but then I can't remember."
"What about those boys? Do they plan on finding this Dr. Marcoh, if he's still alive?" asked Belsio.
"We've been searching for so long and haven't turned up anything substantial. Hopefully we'll be able to get a lead and find something real for a change." said Raven as she set down her cup. "And then everything can be normal again."
"Normal?"
"Don't get me started."
Meanwhile at the mansion Mugear was talking with the Tringham brothers, the expression on his face one of anger. The brothers were stuck in a small room with only one way out, the door which Mugear was standing next to. They had been handcuffed, but that was their only form of bondage.
"You're useless! You just had to put the contingency Phase 2 into effect!" shouted Mugear through the grill in the door.
"Brother, what is Phase 2?" asked Fletcher as he looked at his older brother.
"Simple really." said Mugear, drawing the attention of both brothers. "You introduce the red water into the drinking supply of pregnant women. It permeates their placenta, a factory of biological condensing."
"No!" shouted Fletcher as his brother got extremely angry.
"You shut up!" shouted the Fake Ed but Mugear ignored him.
"When the process is done you extract it and transmute it into a stone." said Mugear before laughing. "It's fool-proof. Let's mother nature do all the work."
The Fake Ed looked ashamed as Mugear finished.
"It's a shame. You've obviously inherited your father's cowardice." said Mugear before starting to walk away.
"Wait!" shouted the Fake Ed and Mugear stopped. "Just tell me one thing Mugear. Did my father ever use that method on someone?"
"No. At the last minute he had a crisis of morality and backed out. If only he had gone through with it he would have saved his wretched life." said Mugear and the older brother looked shocked.
"You liar! You said he left here alive!" shouted the Fake Ed.
"Hmm…" said Mugear as he walked away.
"Wait Mugear! Get back here!" shouted the Fake Ed but one of the guards merely slammed the cover down over the window.
Lust sat on the raised part of the fountain, her feet dangling over the edge as Mugear explained his plan to her.
"I've taken care of everything. Now all we have to do is convince the real Elric brothers and their friend Raven Dain to put our plan into motion." said Mugear.
"You make it sound so easy… but those children are more complex than you think. Especially the girl." said Lust, no emotion in her voice.
"I can handle a group of children!" said Mugear as he clenched his fist, confidence in his voice. "Please, put a little trust in me! We're close to the milk and honey, I can feel it!"
Lust merely looked at Mugear before saying, "It's your gamble. Go ahead."
Mugear started walking away as Lust continued to speak, more to herself than anyone.
"One way or the other, things will work out."
The next day the trio made their way up to Mugear's mansion where he led them into the lab and began to apologize.
"I'm so sorry those impostors stole your identities. I was completely fooled by them, we all were I'm ashamed to say. The last thing I want to do is add insult to injury. I'm sure you have work to do. But since you three really are such accomplished alchemists there's a matter I'd like some help with." said Mugear as he talked to them, his voice showing no sign of lies.
"Something with red water by chance?" asked Ed, his arms crossed and a serious look on his face.
"Oh, so you have heard about it?" asked Mugear sounding excited as he walked forward and folded his hands. "That'll spare me having to explain. The truth of the matter is I've done my research as well and I've happened to hear some rumors that you're very interested in the Philosopher's Stone."
Mugear held up a decent sized red stone, but Ed and Raven looked unconvinced.
"Uh-huh." said Ed.
"What do you think Edward? Raven? It's the crystallized product of red water. A proto-type for the prize that you're after."
"And so what do we do with that?" asked Raven and Mugear didn't skip a beat.
"First of all, together we can save Xenotime. Once we revitalize the gold mine this town can get back on its feet again!" said Mugear when a sudden change came over Ed.
"Sounds like a good cause. So where are the fakes?" asked Ed, an angry look on his face.
"Taken care of. They're in the cellar." said Mugear as Ed clapped his hands and touched the stone with his finger, making it turn into powder. "Ah! What'd you do that for!?"
"We'll talk about the unfinished work later." said Ed as he looked smug. "First we execute those prisoners. We State Alchemists aren't the type to forgive liars."
"Oh, then you mean you're accepting my request for assistance?" asked Mugear, looking startled.
"He told you, let's take care of those pathetic kids first." said Raven with an evil glint in her eyes. "It's been a good while since we've killed anyone. We kinda miss it."
She looked at Mugear and grinned before saying, "You wanna watch?"
"Uh, no thanks." said Mugear as he jumped, looking scared, but recovered and folded his hands. "I'll let you three take care of it."
Raven smiled as Ed and Al looked at her, the evil look out of her eyes.
In the cell the Fake Ed sat crunched up in a ball, his forehead resting on his knees. Fletcher watched on in silence, wanting to comfort his brother but not knowing how.
"Brother." said Fletcher, hoping that would help his sibling.
Suddenly the brothers both looked up as the door opened to reveal Raven, Ed, and Al standing there.
"Hi!" said Al as he waved.
"Al, what are you doing here?" asked Fletcher, looking puzzled.
"We know who you guys are now and we know that your father was actually Nash Tringham." said Ed and both brothers gasped at the mention of their father's name. "But we don't know why you foolishly continue his work."
The Fake Ed looked at the floor before saying, "Because it was his dream and as his son it was my duty to see it through."
"So you honestly think this is what he wanted?" asked Raven and the Fake Ed looked ashamed. "You do realize the suffering that toxic water is causing the people of this town don't you? Well your father realized it. That's why he chose to abandon his research. And I can tell you right now you're not gonna find happiness by chasing your father's failed dream."
She walked forward and transmuted their handcuffs into kindling. The brothers looked surprised as their hands were freed.
"Live your own life and stop with all the acting, trying to be someone you're clearly not. Come on guys!" said Raven as she turned and headed back up the stairs.
The Tringham brothers merely sat there as the three headed back to the lab.
Mugear merely stared at the dust that was once a red stone. He had an evil grin on his face as he said, "Not to worry. That was nothing compared to what these kids will fashion for me."
"Which kids?" asked Ed and Mugear whirled around, surprised that they had heard him. "You mean us?"
The trio was standing in the doorway, Ed's arms crossed.
"I've been wondering. What ever happened to Nash Tringham? Just in case we have any questions to ask him." said Ed, Mugear still recovering from his shock.
"Nash Tringham… oh!" said Mugear as he managed to pull himself together. "His research wasn't making progress anymore so I had to let him go."
"Huh. You don't strike me as the type of guy who lets someone who knows all his secrets just walk away clean." said Raven as she stared at Mugear intently.
"I'm afraid I missed the implication." said Mugear, his act beginning to drop.
"I'm saying we don't answer to murderers Mugear! You got that!?" asked Raven angrily, Mugear looking surprised but his evil grin quickly covering his face.
"Really?" asked Mugear as he pulled out his machine. "In that case you're not getting out of here alive!"
He held up another stone, similar to the one Ed had destroyed but not as large or clear.
"There are plenty of other alchemists I can use!" shouted Mugear as the trio looked surprised that there was another one of those red stones.
"Another stone?" asked Al.
"So he's got more than one of those things!?" asked Ed and Mugear laughed.
"It may not be as potent as that other one." said Mugear as he dropped it into the machine. "But it'll do!"
The machine glowed for a brief second as a gun barrel appeared out of it. Mugear braced himself before shooting at the doorway. Ed dodge-rolled out of the way as Raven and Al dove to the left.
"Is that all you've got!?" asked Ed tauntingly, still in a half crouch.
Mugear merely laughed and turned around, his hand full of small red stones no bigger than gravel.
"Bad question!" shouted Ed as Mugear dumped the stones into his machine.
"Didn't think I had the stones!?" asked Mugear as the machine glowed red again and a whole bunch of gun barrels appeared.
"Aw, crap!" shouted Ed as Mugear started firing, but instead of one shot fire like before the machine released the bullets just like a machine gun.
He followed Ed who ran behind a large pillar for cover, Al and Raven close behind him.
"Whoa!" said Al as he jerked to a stop, almost stumbling into the line of fire.
"You can't hide for long!" laughed Mugear as he stopped shooting and poured more stones into his machine.
Mugear's machine glowed again and he continued shooting, the bullets beginning to wear down the edges of the pillar.
"Yeah, I hate to say it but he's right! We need an out, fast!" shouted Ed over the noise.
Suddenly Mugear's machine quit shooting and he started to search through his pockets for more ammo.
"Not done yet…" growled Mugear but gasped when his hands were seized by vines and wrapped together tightly as they were lifted above his head.
The trio looked over to see Fletcher next to a potted plant that he had transmuted to grow up the wall and along the ceiling to trap Mugear.
"Now's our chance!" shouted Ed as he peeked out from behind the pillar. "Push!"
At first the pillar didn't want to move but when it did it crashed down on Mugear, his screams silenced. When the dust cleared the Fake Ed stood up and smiled.
"Well Ed, I do hate to interrupt but it looked like you needed the help." said the Fake Ed.
"Nah!" said Ed, looking somewhat embarrassed, and his impostor smiled and sighed.
"We're not going to be chasing our Dad's dream anymore." said the Fake Ed as he looked at Raven. "You're right. It's time we live our own lives."
Fletcher smiled before saying, "Russell!"
"Russell?" asked Raven when Al noticed something.
"Ah! Brother!"
Everyone looked down at the pillar to see that part of the floor had been knocked down to reveal a set of hidden stairs.
"A secret passage!? Come on guys, time for a chase!" shouted Ed and Russell tossed everyone a mask before they ran down the tunnel.
They had been running for some time when Raven asked, "Russell, how much farther!?"
"The spring where the red water comes out is just up ahead! We're almost there. Argh!" shouted Russell when they came up to a stone wall blocking their path. "Mugear! He blocked our path!"
Ed walked forward, looking angry, and said, "He forgot who he's dealing with!"
He transmuted a hold in the wall to find Mugear waiting, a cannon pointing straight at the tunnel. Mugear fired the cannon and everyone jumped to the sides of the tunnel as the ball went whizzing past.
"I'll never surrender the spring!" shouted Mugear as he pointed at the fountain. "As long as I have the red water nothing can stop me! Least of all two diminutive State Alchemists and their copycat friends!"
Mugear knew he crossed the line when Ed stood in the middle of the tunnel, his bangs obscuring his face. He looked scared as Al prepared to contain Ed should he start throwing a tantrum.
"Huh?" asked Mugear as Ed just stood there."
"Ed!" shouted Russell insistently.
"Brother…" said Al as Raven drew her sword.
"You're not so tough without your precious water Mugear!" shouted Raven as she glared at Mugear through the opening in the wall.
"Diminutive State Alchemists? Points for the big word but you're still goin' down!" shouted Ed and Mugear got ready to launch the cannon again.
"Oh yeah!?" asked Mugear as he fired again, Ed transmuting the wall shut.
The ball crashed into the wall, sending rubble everywhere as it broke the wall. Russell's mask flew off as a rock hit it in his attempt to keep Fletcher safe. He held his breath as he fumbled for it but saw it had cracked in two.
"Here!" shouted Raven as she ripped hers off and shoved it over his face.
"Wait, what about you!?" asked Russell, the dust still clearing.
"I'll be fine. It didn't bother me before." said Raven as the dust cleared to reveal Mugear lying on the ground.
"You see now?" asked Ed as he walked up to Mugear. "Even with your stones we're on a whole other level!"
He gasped as the ceiling started to shake and small pieces started to fall. Everyone watched as large pieces of the ceiling started to drop.
"What's going on?" asked Mugear as he looked around to see the fountain being crushed by falling debris.
"Ed that's enough! Let's get out of here!" shouted Russell.
"Brother!" shouted Al as large chucks of rock fell around Ed, who merely shielded his face with his arms.
When he looked up he saw Mugear crawling over to the fountain, attempting to protect it from the large boulders threatening to land on it.
"I'll never surrender the spring!" shouted Mugear, shock all over his face as geysers of red water shot out from underneath the large rocks.
He started screaming as a large boulder dropped from the ceiling and landed on him, crushing the fountain. Everyone headed back up the tunnel when Russell suddenly stopped.
"Rushing water. The red water's overflowing." said Russell and everybody could hear it now.
Ed ran back the way they came several steps before transmuting a wall out of the ground, similar to the one Mugear had constructed earlier.
"That should hold it for now." said Ed, looking pleased.
"Won't it just come out somewhere else!?" asked Raven, the fumes from the red water not bothering her at all.
"That shock probably weakened the support beams!" shouted Russell as he turned and ran a couple of steps. "We should leave!"
They managed to make it out of the tunnel and mansion without incident, but when they got outside they saw a huge waterfall of red water climbing down the mountain behind the mansion. Raven ran forward and clapped her hands before slamming them into the ground, creating a huge rock wall out of the hill to stop the rushing water. As the water crashed against the barrier it threatened to spill over the edge.
"Now then, if we can just find a drain." said Ed as he looked around.
Fletcher bolted forward and ran down into the large patch of pine trees, chalk in his hand. He drew a hurried transmutation circle on one of the trees before resting his head against it, making it glow with a green light. The trees all glowed with the same green light as they began to suck up the red water, growing at an accelerated speed. When the light started to wear off they could see the trees turning red from all the water they had consumed.
"The trees. They're absorbing all the red water." said Raven as everyone watched, eye wide.
"I saw something like this back at the lab." said Al, Raven and Ed looking up at him.
"That's right. They were detoxifying the red water with plants." said Ed as Russell started walked towards Fletcher.
Fletcher looked up, startled, as Russell rested his hand against his younger brother's.
"See? It works." said Fletcher as he smiled."
Russell nodded and Fletcher turned back to his transmutation. Finally, the trees managed to absorb all the red water and Ed smiled.
"They pulled through. Well done." said Ed as Fletcher's transmutation circle stopped glowing.
Both Tringham brother's looked at each other and smiled before turning back to the task at hand.
"Thank you trees. Sorry for this." said Fletcher as both brothers close their eyes and the transmutation circle started glowing again.
The trees turned ice blue before shattering and blowing away. Raven clapped her hands and transmuted the large basin down again, the hill looking almost normal except for the lack of trees.
At the train station Ed, Raven, and Al sat close to their window to say farewell. Elisa held up the lemon basket she was holding and said, "Take these! They're from my uncle!"
"Great. Thank you very much." said Al as he reached down and took the basket.
"Stay out of trouble you guys!" said Elisa.
"Yeah and come back to see us!" said Fletcher.
"Sure. Of course we will." said Raven as Ed turned to Russell.
"So, are you sure you'll be able to make it in this town?" asked Ed.
"Belsio wants us to go work for him. Our agricultural alchemy should be pretty useful around his farm. So Ed." said Russell, suddenly serious. "You'll still hunt for the Philosopher's Stone after this?"
Ed looked surprised and glanced around before smiling and saying, "Yeah."
"If you want, I can tell you exactly how we crystallized the red stone." said Russell and Raven looked at him in surprise.
"But why?"
"It's not so much out of atonement, but just because you deserve to know." said Russell, Ed closing his eyes and smiling.
"Thanks a lot Russell but no thanks." said Ed as he shook his head. "We'll find the real article on our own. You can count on that!"
"You'll see Ed. When you come to visit this town will be better than ever!" said Fletcher.
"That's right! And by that time I'll probably be taller than you!" said Elisa with a big smile on her face, Ed poking his head out the window.
"Come on! Show a little respect for your elders huh?" asked Ed as Elisa, Fletcher, and Raven laughed. "I'm serious! Hey! Why's that funny!?"
The train's whistle sounded and the train started to move as Ed called out the window, "So long guys!"
"Good bye!" shouted Al.
"Take care!" shouted Raven as she waved out the window.
"Good bye!" shouted Fletcher as everyone on the platform waved.
"Don't forget to visit!" called out Elisa as the train picked up speed.
After several hours worth of travel Ed looked down and noticed a folded up note in the lemon basket. He leaned forward and grabbed it, Al and Raven watching him.
"Hey, a letter." said Ed.
"It's for us?" asked Raven as she leaned over to see what it said.
"Yeah, let me read." said Ed as he nudged Raven away while opening it.
His eyes traveled back and forth as he read the letter when all of a sudden his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"What!?" shouted Ed.
"What's it say?" asked Al as he and Raven looked interested.
"Drop it! It's nothing okay!" shouted Ed as he tried to hide the letter.
"Oh!" said Al and Raven as they looked at each other before diving at Ed.
"Come on! Let me see! Let me see! Let me see!" shouted Al as Ed squirmed around avoiding them.
"Get away from me, I'm serious!" shouted Ed as he held the letter close.
"If it's nothing then show it to us! Ha! Got it!" shouted Raven as she held the letter up before starting to read it.
"Hey, give it back!" shouted Ed as Al held him down and Raven read the letter aloud.
"Ed and Raven, thank you for all the help and words of wisdom you gave us. I'm sorry I was such a smart-ass to you at first but I am trying to be a better older brother to Fletcher, and I'll try hard to follow you example Ed. I guess you being a year older than me makes a big difference. Well, have a good trip. Russell. P.S. Don't tell Raven this but I think she's cute. Do you have any tips?" said Raven, her voice barely containing a snarl as she read Russell's note to Ed at the bottom.
"Damn. I can't believe he's a year younger than me and already so much taller! Life's so unfair!" shouted Ed and Raven glared at him.
"You care about height!? This guy thinks I'm cute and I'm older than him! What is his problem!?" asked Raven angrily as she stuffed the note back into the basket. "And he asked you for tips. Like you could give any."
Ed snarled and jumped at Raven, trying to punch her. When Al got Ed back into a seat he asked, "You think those two are gonna be all right?"
"Yeah they'll be fine. Maybe we will too." said Ed as the train sped off towards East City.